Vanguard Protection Leadership Team

Meet Our Dedicated And Passionate

Vanguard Protection Leadership Team


At Vanguard Protection, leadership is not defined by titles alone—it is defined by judgment, discipline, and the ability to think clearly under pressure. Our leadership team is composed of seasoned security professionals who have spent their careers operating in environments where attention to detail, thorough planning, and critical decision-making are not optional, but essential.

Our Leadership Team

Thoroughness is a defining characteristic of our organization. Our executives and senior managers have built their careers on disciplined processes, rigorous risk assessments, and an uncompromising commitment to doing things correctly the first time. This culture of precision flows downward through every layer of our protective teams. It ensures that intelligence is validated, plans are rehearsed, and operational gaps are identified and corrected long before a client is ever exposed to risk.

Beyond tactical expertise, our leaders emphasize professionalism, accountability, and ethical judgment. They set the standard for composure, situational awareness, and decision-making under stress, ensuring that every Vanguard operation reflects the highest levels of discipline and restraint. Their oversight ensures that protective coverage is not merely present, but intelligently deployed, seamlessly integrated, and continuously evaluated.

The result is a leadership structure that combines strategic vision with operational exactness. At Vanguard Protection, our leadership team’s relentless attention to detail, commitment to thorough preparation, and capacity for critical thinking form the backbone of our ability to protect individuals, families, and organizations operating in complex and high-risk environments.

Our team believes in fostering an environment conducive to personal and professional growth, as well as one diversified with a wide breadth of outstanding individuals. If you are interested in joining the Vanguard team, click here.


Founders

Shawn Saathoff

Executive Director

Wayne Marks

Executive Director

Vanguard Protection was founded by two partners who share a common belief:
serious risk is rarely obvious, and meaningful protection begins long before a visible incident occurs.

Together, the founders bring more than 25 years of combined field experience spanning protective operations, investigations, intelligence collection, OSINT analysis, and risk management. That experience informs not only how the firm operates, but why it remains intentionally selective, disciplined, and discreet.

Rather than scaling through volume, they chose to build a boutique firm—one designed to remain hands-on, analyst-driven, and deeply accountable to a limited client base. Every engagement is approached with the understanding that trust is earned quietly, and that outcomes matter more than visibility.

The founders are known internally for an uncompromising attention to detail and an ability to identify risks that others overlook—whether those risks emerge from subtle behavioral indicators, digital exposure, environmental inconsistencies, or gaps between policy and real-world practice. This perspective is the result of years spent operating where assumptions fail and consequences are real.

Professional discretion is central to the Vanguard’s culture. The founders maintain a low public profile by design, prioritizing client confidentiality, operational integrity, and measured judgment over recognition. Their leadership style emphasizes preparation over reaction, discipline over bravado, and clarity over noise.

Ultimately, they both remain directly involved in the firm’s strategic direction, standards, and critical client work—ensuring that every engagement reflects the same rigor, restraint, and professionalism upon which the firm was built.